03/21/2016
Carter (My Best Friend, Maybe) takes readers into the competitive heart of elite gymnastics as five athletes fight for a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Set over two days, the story follows the girls’ progress as they risk damaging their friendships, bodies, and reputations in order to be chosen. Third-person narration shifts attention among Grace, a half-Chinese world champ coached by her domineering father; tiny, “mousy” Monica, a long-shot struggling with self-confidence; Camille, the comeback kid who questions her commitment; African-American Wilhelmina, the veteran who wants a last chance at Olympic glory; and Leigh, who worries about the public finding out that she is gay. The girls have depth and heart, revealing insecurities and vulnerabilities, but also an unsurpassed determination to succeed. Through them, Carter skillfully showcases the extreme pressure gymnasts are under and the lengths they will go to win. Gymnastics-lovers of all ages will eagerly soak up this intimate look at the sport as these athletes attempt to stick their landings, gain favor with the intimidating judges, and dominate the leaderboard. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. (June)
As a primarily contemporary reader, nothing excites me on the eve of a new year like the promise of new stories of brutal realism, light romance, psychological thrill rides, and everything in between. Being that contemporary is my absolute favorite genre, my “must-read” list is far longer than this, but apparently it’s frowned upon to […]
Fantasy may have its duels to the death, and sci-fi may have the threat of planets blowing up, but don’t make the mistake of underestimating just how high the stakes in the real world can be. These seven contemporary YAs lay it all on the line with intense competitions, life-changing prizes, and vicious rivalries.
Every year on October 11 we celebrate National Coming Out Day, a 28-year-old holiday that encourages LGBTQ+ people to come out to their loved ones. Last year, we recommended a mix of books, songs, and videos to help and encourage teens struggling to come out. But coming out is more complicated than one holiday, and […]
Young adult books from independent publishers are always among the most exciting, because they often come with so much more freedom to push boundaries and feature strong representation that others don’t. Smaller publishers provided some of my favorite books of 2016 (see: On the Edge of Gone, by Corinne Duyvis; The Abyss Surrounds Us, by Emily Skrutskie; Not […]
Summer Olympics 2016 in Rio is just around the corner, and we here at the B&N Teen Blog are prepared! Oh, I’m not exercising or otherwise engaging in physical activity or anything, but I did pound some fabulous Olympic/pro sports–themed YA in honor of the games, and really, isn’t that what being an athlete is […]